A CONVENIENCE store worker has been hailed a ‘retail hero’ for his efforts in supporting the community during the coronavirus pandemic.

Will Graham, a supervisor at the Spar in Old Hall, picked up an accolade at the inaugural Quinyx Workforce Heroes Awards in recognition of his work.

The 20-year-old, from Sankey Bridges, was described as a ‘great support, very positive and always there to help’ by his colleagues.

And he has also become a popular figure among customers, in particular elderly regulars.

Will, who has worked at the shop for the past 17 months, said: “Because of Covid, we saw a pattern of customers visiting us more regularly as they couldn’t get to the larger supermarkets or they were worried to visit them for fear of contracting the virus.

“The mini market has become a real community hub.

“For a lot of people during lockdown, it has been their only chance of interaction and so it’s nice to see regular faces and build relationships.

“Many of the elderly shoppers walk through the door and ask for me.

“As well as chatting about their day, I help reach higher products off the shelves or carry their bags.

“Taking the time to get to know them has been nice and I’m happy I can make their days a bit brighter.”

Store manager Victoria Telfer nominated Will for the award.

She said: “Will always has a smile on his face.

“He is so conscious of those around him, be that his colleagues or customers, and he is genuinely interested in making sure they’re ok – it’s really refreshing.

“The Spar has been a real lifeline for the local community during the pandemic, and by getting to know our customers and making special efforts for them like setting aside their favourite newspaper or always ensuring there’s a pint of milk for our regulars he’s made a lot of our more vulnerable customers feel very safe.”

Workforce management solution company Quinyx’s country manager Daniel Holmberg, who was one of the judges, added: “What really struck us about Will is his positive mental attitude and the fact that, despite everything that’s been happening in the world, he continued to put the needs of others before his own.

“His entry completely encapsulates a workforce hero – an everyday frontline worker who naturally goes over and above for the benefit of his peers and customers.

“Well done, Will.”